Thomasia purpurea

Thomasia purpurea is a small, flowering shrub in the family Malvaceae that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has green oblong-shaped leaves and pinkish purple flowers.

Thomasia purpurea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Thomasia
Species:
T. purpurea
Binomial name
Thomasia purpurea
Synonyms[1]
  • Lasiopetalum purpureum W.T.Aiton
  • Thomasia purpurea (W.T.Aiton) J.Gay var. purpurea
  • Thomasia rupestris Steud.
Underside of flower
Flower

Description

Thomasia purpurea is an upright, slender shrub usually growing to between 0.3–1.2 m (1 ft 0 in – 3 ft 11 in) high, stems covered in star-shaped hairs. It has oblong to narrow-oval shaped leaves, 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) long, 7 mm (0.28 in) wide, hairy especially on the underside and wavy margins. The small flowers are cup-shaped, droopin, borne in clusters of 1–3 at the end of branches, lacking petals and calyx lobes pinkish purple. Flowering occurs between April and December.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Swedish botanist Jonas Carlsson Dryander and the description was published in William Aiton's Hortus Kewensis in 1811 as Lasiopetalum purpureum.[6] The type specimen was collected by botanist Robert Brown from King George Sound in 1801. In 1821 French botanist Jacques Etienne Gay placed the species in the genus Thomasia.[7] The specific epithet (purpurea) means "purple".[8]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in coastal regions of south-west Western Australia on ridges, flat lands, seasonally wet locations and sandy hills.[2][3]

References
  1. "Thomasia purpurea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  2. "Thomasia purpurea". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. Grieg, Denise (1999). Field Guide to Australian Flowers. Australia: Averill Chase-New Holland. p. 410. ISBN 1864363347.
  4. Wrigley, John; Fagg, Murray (2001). Australian Native Plants. Australia: Reed New Holland. p. 476. ISBN 1876334304.
  5. Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia ; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 48–49. ISBN 9780646839301.
  6. "Lasiopetalum purpureum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  7. "Thomasia purpurea". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  8. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 296. ISBN 9780958034180.
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